What did they look at?
Evidence of meeting #27 for Natural Resources in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was project.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #27 for Natural Resources in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was project.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The two projects in question are Muskeg and Kearl Lake. They are two big projects.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
These are new projects that have not yet started.
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
They are not under construction because they are being assessed.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
They are not under construction because they are on hold. OK.
How many of these environmental assessments or review panels has your agency funded? Your agency has funded independent groups.
I’m going to make an observation, and I don’t want to question the value of Ms. Smith’s group. I notice that there are a lot of non-profit agencies that are consultants, lobby groups or advisory groups where the oil industry is very much involved because it funds them. In my opinion, being both judge and a party to the case removes some of their independence.
How many environmental assessments or review panels are awarded to groups that you have funded through the program you spoke of earlier? Is the oil industry part of these groups? In other words, are these groups completely independent?
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
In every case where there is a review panel, we have a budget, a participant fund. As a result, in every case, we appoint a panel, often headed by our director in the region where the panel is sitting, as well as people from outside, and we review the requests.
We do not fund any group that has its own sources of funding. We do not pay anyone’s operating expenses. In general it is community groups, citizens’ groups, environmental groups and others.
4:35 p.m.
An hon. Member
First nations.
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
It’s true that there are also first nations. There are many aboriginal groups.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Regarding the two projects currently being studied by review panels, are you funding groups to help them participate in the hearings?
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
I could send you a list.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
OK.
When you make recommendations to the minister, are they implemented in a reasonable amount of time? How does that work?
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Yes, they are implemented. In the case of a project that has been subjected to an environmental assessment, she imposes requirements on the promoter. There is a whole series of conditions that the promoter must respect.
Our recommendations to the Minister of the Environment can be formulated in this way: in this case, Madam Minister, for all the following reasons, we recommend that you appoint an independent review panel; or in this case, a comprehensive study would suffice. We make recommendations of that sort to her.
As to the recommendations for the project, it is the promoter who must implement them.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Since your role is to predict and assess the potential negative environmental affects and propose mitigation measures, I have a very simple question for you.
You know that this industry produces a lot of greenhouse gas emissions. I was surprised to note that, as part of your environmental assessments, you do not make recommendations about targets for greenhouse gas reductions, in light of climate change and our scientific knowledge.
I would expect that even before the studies begin, the oil companies would be obliged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
I’m going to ask Scott to add to my response afterwards.
If there are greenhouse gas reduction targets, they are taken into account during the assessment of individual projects and we ask that a certain number of mitigation measures be taken to reduce these emissions.
It is not our role to establish reduction targets.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
On the other hand, you know that the assessments of the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions are documented. This is scientific data that you can’t ignore.
Normally, your agency should make recommendations to the minister concerning the effort to make to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change. This should be part of your recommendations.
4:35 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The review panels’ reports indicate the extent of the emissions and how much the mitigation measures will reduce them. The decision on whether or not to go ahead rests with the government, the Cabinet.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
I asked you a little earlier if the minister implemented your recommendations. Do you tell her what the effects of an increase in greenhouse gases will be and what the possible mitigation measures are, for example, quickly implementing the CO2 storage and capture technology? Do you recommend that to the Minister?
Are you telling me that the minister is not required to oblige the promoters to respect the mitigation measures that you propose?
4:40 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
The final decision to authorize a project or not rests with the government or the Cabinet. It considers the report from the review panel, which indicates what can be reduced, what can be limited and what the impacts on the environment could be. It is never a black and white decision for us. It’s the government that makes that decision, and not the agency.
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
I know, but I’m going to ask my question again.
If you recommend that the minister have regulations adopted that establish standards for the promoter’s greenhouse gas emissions, normally, she should implement your recommendation, since you just told me that the minister has never rejected a recommendation.
4:40 p.m.
President, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Of course, but it’s the Cabinet that, when all is said and done, decides whether the environmental impact is acceptable or not. Our role is to document and explain what can be done and what cannot be done. After that, the government decides.
We never recommend abandoning a project. We indicate what the project’s impact is and to what extent that impact can be mitigated. It’s well analysed; some reports are 400 or 500 pages long. They analyze all that and then they summarize it. Then, the government makes the final decision.
4:40 p.m.
Bloc
